Apparatus for automatically delivering liquids to receptacles.



No. 634,424. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

n. CAMERON & F. J. comm. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDST0 RECEPTACLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1697.) (No Model.) In Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 634,424. Patented Oct. 3, I899. D. CAMERON &. F. J. CUMMIN.APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDS T0 RECEPTAGLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.) (No Model.) I0 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 634,424. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

D. CAMERON & F. J. COMMIN. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERINGLIQUIDS T0 RECEPTACLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.

(No Model.) l0vSheetsSheet 3,

No. 634,424. Patented Dot. 3, I899. D. CAMERON & F. J. GUMMIN.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDS T0 RECEPTACLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.) (No Model.)

l0 Sheets-Sheet 4,

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No. 634,424. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

n. CAMERON & F. J. comma. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDSTU BEGEPTACLES.

(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.) o Mo l.) I0 sheets-Shee 5.

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No. 634,424. Patented Oct. 3, I899.

' I]. CAMERON &. I". J. CUMMIN. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERINGLIQUIDS TU RECEPTACLESQ (Application med Mar. 15, 1897.) (No Model.) l0Sheets-Sheet 6.

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No. 634,424. 1 Patented out 3,1899.

0. CAMERON & F. J. comma. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDSTU BECEPT'ACLES.

(Application filed liar. 15, 1897.)

(No Mode I0 Shaina-Sheet 7,

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Patented vOct. 3,1899.

D. CAMERON &. F. J. DUMMIN.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDS T0 RECEPTACLES.

l SheetsfSheet 8,

(Applicatiogpgled Mar. 15, ,1897.)

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No. 634,424. Patented on. 3, I899. D. CAMERON &. F. J. COMMIN. APPARATUSFOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIIIUIDS TI) RECEPTAGLES.

(Apylicatiun filed Mar. 15, 1897.) (No Model.) l0 Sheets-Sheet 9,

No. 634,424. v Patented Oct. 3,1899. 0. CAMERON & F. J. CDMMIN.

' APPARATUS FOR AUTUMATIGALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDS TO BECEPTACLES(Application filed Mar. 15, 1897.)

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UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD CAMERON 'AND FREDERICK J. COMMIN, OF EXETER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY DELIVERING LIQUIDS TO RECEPTACLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,424, dated October3, 1899.

Application filed March 15, 1897.

To (NZ It'll/071k it nut concern:

Be it known that we, DONALD CAMERON and FREDERICK JAMES COMMIN, subjectsof the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of Exeter, in the county ofDevon, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Automatically Feeding Liquids Successively to Two or MoreChambers or Receptacles and Discharging it- Therefrom, (for whichLetters Patent have been obtained in Great Britain, No. 3,003, datedFebruary 10, 1896; in India, No. 90 of 1897, dated August 13, 1897; inCanada, No. 58,527, dated December 27, 1897; in Cape Colony, No. 1,307,dated March 11, 1897; in Victoria, No. 14,018, dated March 29, 1897; inQueensland,No. 3,823, dated April 1,1897; in South Australia, No. 3,606,dated April 1, 1897; in New Zealand, No. 9,420, dated April 8, 1897; inNew South \Vales, No. 7,066, dated November 19, 1896; in France, No.26t,570, dated March 2,1897; in Belgium, No. 126,675, dated March 2,1897; in Germany, No. 9t,865, dated March 3, 1897; and in Transvaal, No.1,363, dated March 31, 1897,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus-specially designed for use in thepurification of foul water or sewage, but which may also be employed fordealing with other liquids; and it has for its object to provide meansfor antomatically filling and discharging tanks or filters with orwithout interposing a period of rest between each filling and the nextdischarge and between each discharge and the next filling; for causingtwo or more filters to be filled in continuous succession, so that bythe intermittent action of each in turn a continuous fiow may be dealtwith, and for removing a filter or filters from the combination andreplacing a filter or filters therein without interfering with thecontinuous operation of the apparatus.

According to our invention the delivering of liquid to filters or tanksand its discharge therefrom are automatically controlled by suitableapparatus actuated by the overflow of part of the contents of suchfilter or tank as soon as it is filled to the desired height.

In carrying out our invention the supply and discharge valves for eachfilter may be operated by an independent set of apparatus Serial No.627,548. (No model.)

or one set may be made to operate the valves of two or more filters. Aconvenient method is to arrange the filters in pairs and to operate allthe valves of each pair by a single set of apparatus.

In order that our invention may be fully understood, we will now proceedto describe the same in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a plan view of our improved apparatus. Fig. 2representsalongitudinal section on the line 2 2, showing onemodification of our invention as applied in connection with a septictank and one pair'of filters. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectiontaken through the filters on the line 3 30E Fig. 1. Fig. at represents atransverse section through the septic tank on the line 4 -:t of Fig. 1.Fig. 5 represents a transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1and showing the buckets for actuating the alternating gear. Fig. 6represents a plan view on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 represents atransverse section, drawn on an enlarged scale, showing more clearly thearrangement of the alternating gear. Fig. 8 represents a plan viewshowing our invention as applied when'five filters are employed, one ofwhich is always out of use, so as to enable it to replace one of theother four when for any reason it is required to cut one filter out.Fig. 8 represents an enlarged sectional view of the dish-aerator used inthis arrangement, together with the channels it supplies. Fig. 9represents a transverse section through one of the wells from which thesewage or sewage-effluent is conveyed to the different filters, thevalves being removed from their seatings. Fig. 9 represents an enlargedsectional view through the collecting-well R, showing one of thedistributing-"alves disconnected from its operating-lever. Fig. 10represents a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 11 an end view, ofone of the flap-valves on the ends of the overflowpipes which dischargeinto the buckets for actuating the alternating gear. Fig. 12 representsa plan view showing our invention as applied when eight filters areemployed in one set, one or more pairs being capable of being cut outand allowed to rest. Fig. 13 represents a diagrammatic view showing theoperation of the four-way cocks used in the arran gement shown in Fig.12. Fig. 14 is a plan View; and Fig. 15 a transverse section showing amodified form of mechanism for controlling the Working of any number offilters by means of a single pair of actuating-buckets, the latter notbeing shown. Fig. 16 represents an enlarged detail view of thisarrangement, showing the buckets; and Fig. 17 represents a frontelevation thereof. Fig. 18 represents a vertical sectional view of thevalve through which the overflows from the different collecting-wellspass to the actuating-buckets.

In the arrangement for carrying out our invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, and in which only two filters are employed, the sewage orother liquid after passing through the septic tank A flows over a tableB onto a diverter 0, consisting of a plate or trough or dish so inclinedas to throw the oncoming stream into one or other of the channels D D,and according to the position of this diverter it then passes ontoeither one of the channels DD, from which it is delivered to one or theother of the filters E E, which are filled with any filtering material,such as coke, breeze, or other suitable material. At the bottom of eachfilter a number of pipes F F are placed, which conduct the filtrate asit enters them from the filtering material to a culvert or drain G G,Fig. 3, through which such filtrate passes to the collecting-wells H H,Fig. 1. The position of the diverter C, and consequently which of thefilters the sewage or other liquid is delivered to, is determined asfollows: The shaft I, on which the diverter C is mounted, extends over achamber J and has a frame attached to it carrying at it oppositeextremities buckets K K,which are so arranged that when one of them isdepressed in the manner hereinafter described it will not return to itsformer position until it is again actuated. The bucket K is divided byapartition into an upper receiving-compartment 20 and a lowerdelivery-compartment 30, the receiving-compartment 20 being somewhatlarger than the delivery-compartment 30. The bucket K is divided in asimilar manner by a partition it" into compartments 20 and From thecollecting-wells H H, preferably near the top of the same, passages orpipes h 7t are laid, each being so placed that on the liquid in thecorresponding collecting-well rising to the level thereof such liquidwill pass through the passage h or it to the bucket at the opposite sideof the shaft I, which bucket would then be in its raised position. Theeffect of the liquid entering the bucket would be that such bucket willdescend to its lower position, thereby turning the shaft I, on which, asabove stated, the diverter (J is mounted, and so causing the sewage orother liquid to he delivered to the other of the two filters E E. At thesame time a double-ended lever L, also mounted on the shaft I and theends ofwhich are connected by any suitable means, such as rods Z Z, tothe discharge-valvcshl M at the bottom of the collecting-wells H H, willby this movement of the shaft be caused to open the discharge-valve ofthe filter which has just been filled and close the discharge-valve ofthe other, which will then begin to fill. As the bucket which has justbeen filled descends it will be tilted so that the liquid which occupiesthe upper compartment 20 of the bucket, formed by the partitipn k ktherein, will flow over the outer edge of such partition, through theopening 70 into the lower compartment 30, where a portion of it willremain to serve as a counterweight, holding the buckets in their newposition, the rest overflowing over the inner edge of the bottom of thelower compartment at 10 YVhen the other bucket is in its turn filledwith the liquid, it will descend, reversing the position of thebuckets,and consequently the positions of the diverter G and the valvesM M, raising the valve which was formerly closed and closing the onewhich was formerly open. As each bucket rises again to its higherposition the contents of its lower compartment will be entirelydischarged over the inner edge of the bottom of such lower compartmentat W.

The collecting-wells H H, which are connected, respectively, with thebottoms of the filters E E, communicate, through the valves M M, withpassages m m, through which the efiiuent can escape when either of suchvalves is opened. The buckets K K need not neoessarily be hung on shaftI, but may be placed on an independent shaft I by gearing or otherwise,as in Figs. 16 and 17. If more than two filters are used, instead ofemptying each filter as soon as it is full it is preferable to retainthe filtered water in contact with the filtering material and the oxygenand the micro-organisms therewith engaged. Similarly instead of againfilling each filter almost as soon as it is discharged it is preferableto lengthen the period of aeration, so as to better prepare the filterto deal with the next dose of sewage.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 five filters are employed, four onlyof which are in use at the same time, the fifth beingheld in reserve, soas to enable it to replace any one of the other four operative ones whenrequired. The liquid from the septic tank or other chamber or receptaclefrom which it is required to distribute same enters the distributingapparatus at X and passes through a gage-well N and flows along anaerator O,

' which is of dish form, the liquid falling freely from the edges ofsuch aerator in two thin films into channels PP, from which it isconveyed by pipes P to wells R R, provided with distributing-valves S, S,SS S S S and S opening into passages T T T T T leading to the fivefilters. Two pairs of buckets K K K K are employed, and in addition tothe levers L for operating the discharge-valves M M M M from thecollecting-wells H H H H the shafts I I, on'whi'ch such buckets aremounted, have attached .to

when it is desired to cutout the filter to which the pipe T leads thevalves S S which open into said pipe, are disconnected from the lever Land both valves remain seated and stop any flow of liquid into saidfilter. The pipes G G G2 G G" conduct the filtrate from the bottom ofthe filters, respectively, to the collecting-wells H H H H the pipe Gconducting it to collecting-well H from filter E, the pipe G tocollecting-well H or H from filter E, the pipe G to the collectingwell Hor H from filter E the pipe G to the collecting-well H or H from filterE and the pipe G to collecting-well H from filter E. Only one pipeleading into each collectingwell is in use at one time, the second pipeleading into each well being closed, as shown, by a valve or plug gOverflow-pipes h h 7L2 72 lead, respectively, from the collectingwells HH H to the buckets K K K K, and the end of each of such overflow-pipesis provided with a flap-valve U, (shownin detailin Figs. 10 and 11,)having tailsu, adapted to be operated by the rods 10', mounted on theactuating-buckets when the latter rise, there-- by opening the passagefor the overflow from one of the collecting-wells.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8 filters E E E E form the working set,filter E be ing held in reserve. Distributing-valve S and the valve Sdiagonally opposite to it are connected to the levers on one shaft andvalve S and the valve S diagonally opposite to it are connected to thelevers on the other shaft, the remaining four distributing-valves beingdisconnected and lying on their seats. Filter E is connected throughpipe G with well H, filter E through pipe G with well H, filter E though pipe G with well H and filter E through pipe G with well H theopenings from pipe G into well H, G into H, G into H and G into Hrespectively, being plugged. Of the distributing-valves which areconnected with the levers on the shafts valves S and S are open, theother two being closed. Of the discharge-valves M and M are lifted, sothat filters E and E having already discharged, may drain freely, and Mand M are on their seats. and resting, the surface of the water in thefilter being at the same level as that in the wells R B, so that no moreliquid can enter filter E but liquid is passing through well R, valve S,and pipe T into filter E. As the liquid fills the filter, so the levelof the filtered liquid rises in well H, and when filter E is filled tothe desired level, a part of the Filter E is filled contents of well IIwill escape through overflow-pipe 7t into bucket K As soon as the weightof water in bucket K overcomes the pressure of water on valve M bucket Kwill descend, rocking shaft I and the levers therewith connected,lifting valve M so that the.

contents of well 11 and filter E may escape, closing valve S so that nomore liquid may pass into filter E closing valve M and opening valve Sto supply liquid through pipe T to filter E, which will next be filled,filter E resting full meanwhile. As soon as filter E is full a part ofthe contents of well H will overflow through passage 7L2 into bucket K.

The contents of filter E will then be discharged and filter E will thenbe filled. Similarly the filling of filter E will cause filter E to beemptied and filter to be filled, and the filling ot' filter E will causefilter E to be emptied and filter E to be filled, as before. It will beseen that at certain times two filters will be full, but that one onlywill overflow which has a bucket in the raised position ready to receiveits overflow, the overflow of the other well being prevented by thevalve U on its overflow-pipe.

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate an arrangement for working any number ofpairs of filters in one set, (four pairs of filters being shown in Fig.12,) any pair of such filters being capable of being thrown out ofoperation by means of the employment of cocks in the overflowpipes. Inthis arrangement the overflows h 7t 7t ]L3 h" 7L5 71 h from all thefilters are brought into one continuous pipe it forming two completerings, of which one receives the overflows of the filters E, E E and Eand the other those of the filters E, E E and E". Branches from the samepipe deliver the overflow liquid to the actuating-buckets K K K K K K KK The direction of the overflow from each filter is governed by valvesor cocks or preferably by one fourway cock V V V V V.V V V (thearrangement foreach pairof filters being shown in Fig. 13,) such cocksbeing placed in the continuous pipe at the junction of the overfiowpipefrom each filter. The deliverypipes to the actuating-buckets branch offat the same points. With the cocks in the position shown in Fig. 13 thetwo filters E and E controlled by such cocks, will be in use. Theiractuating-buckets are filled by the overflow from filters E and E andtheir overflows go to the buckets of filters E" and E respectively. Bythrowing the levers V and V of the stop-cocks V and V of such filters Eand E over a quarter of a turn to the right by hand such filters E and Ewill be cutout, and filter E will then overflow into the bucket offilter E and filter E into the bucket of filter It will be seen that thelevers V and V of the stop-cocks V and V are connected together by a rodV so that the two cocks are operated together. The working of thisarrangement is in all respects similar to that of thearrangement shownin Fig. 8. If filters IIO E E E E E E form the working set, filters Eand E being in reserve, when filterE fills a small part of the contentsof well II will overflow through pipe h, four-way cook V, pipe 7& andfour-way cock V into bucket K discharging the contents of filter Eandcausing filter E to be filled. Similarly when E is filled filter IEwill be discharged and E caused to fill, and when E is filled filter Ewill be discharged and filterE caused to fill. here it is desired tooperate the valves of each filter independently, the actuating-gear willbe in all respects similar to that above described; but one set will beprovided for each filter and will operate the valves belonging to thatfilter only. In this case the overflowpipe from each filter will be induplicate or will be branched, one branch delivering to theactuating-gear of the filter it is desired to fill and the other to thatof the filter it is desired to empty.

As an alternative to the arrangement already described all the valvesadmitting liquid to the filters, or all the discharge-valves, or all theadmission-valves and all the discharge-valves may be connected by cams,cranks, eccentrics, or otherwise to one shaft. Each connection may havea certain amount of play or lost motion, so that the valve connected maynot move with every part of a revolution of the shaft, but only atcertain stages of each revolution. This arrangement is illustrated inFigs. 14 to 18, inclusive, wherein, as will be seen, a single pair ofactuating-buckets is employed for controlling the supply to anddischarge from any desired number of filters, (the drawings showing theapplication of such arrangement to six filters, one of which is alwaysout out, so as to enable it to be used to replace one of the five whichare operative when desired,) the alternate reciprocating movementimparted to the shaft carrying such pair of buckets being converted intoan intermittent rotary movement always in the same direction, which isemployed to control the supply and discharge valves of the operativefilters. In this arrangement the channel or tank R, leading from thechamber or receptacle from which the liquid is to be distributed, iscommon to all the distributing-valves S S S S S 8", controlling thepassages T, T, T T T and T to the respective filters, each of suchvalves S S S S S 8 being mounted on one end of a lever L L L L L L eachof which levers is pivoted on a shaft I, on which each lever is free tomove independently, and the other ends of which levers L L L L L L areconnected to the discharge-valves H M M M M M of the collecting-wells HH H H H H communicating with the six filters E E E E E E through pipes GG G G G G The overflow-pipes from the collecting-wells H H H H H H asshown in broken lines in Fig. 14, all lead to a common controlling-valveZ, from the case of which two overflow-pipes 7L6 and 72 lead to andterminate,respectively,over

the teeth of the ratchet cl.

the actuating-buckets K K, Fig. 16, the end of each of same beingprovided with a flapvalve U, as previously described in connection withthe arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The shaft 1 carrying the bucketsK K, has mounted upon it a toothed sector a, gearing with the teeth of asector I), mounted loosely on the main shaft I. (See Figs. 16 and 17.)The sector (6 also gears with the teeth of another sector 0, mounted ona shaft 0 and carrying another toothed sector f, gearing with a toothedsector g, also mounted loosely on the shaft I. Keyed to the shaft I is aratchet-wheel cl, and gearing with the teeth of same are pawls e and *5,carried, re spectively, by the toothed sectors 1) and g, mounted looselyon such shaft I.

The operation is as follows: Upon eitherof the buckets K or K beingfilled by the overflow from one of the filters, and consequently causedto descend, the sector (1,, carried by the shaft 1 will by gearing withthe sector I), mounted loosely on the main shaft 1, operate same and bygearing with the sector 0 on the shaft 0 also operate this, and throughsector f, mounted on the latter shaft, such movement will be transmittedto the sector g, also mounted loosely on the main shaft 1. It will thusbe seen that assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 17if the bucket K is filled, and consequently caused v to descend, thesector a on shaft I will, through the pawl 6, carried by the sector I)and gearing with the teeth of ratchet d, move the shaft I forward, whileat the same time such sector a, through sector 0, sector f, and sectorwill cause the pawl 2', carried by the latter, to slip backward over theteeth of such ratchet (Z. If, on the other hand, the bucket K, being inthe raised position, is filled and caused to descend, the movementimparted to the toothed sector Ct will cause pawl i to propel shaft Iforward in the same direction as before, while the pawl 6 will slip backover It will thus be seen that the rocking movement imparted to shaft Iby the alternate filling of the buckets K K will transmit anintermittent movement always in the same direction to shaft I.

Such shaft I has mounted upon it a series of M for controlling thedischarge of the effluent this to be the case, on the buckets beingactuated by the filling of filter E the dischargevalve M of filter Ewill be opened, thus allowing this filter to empty. Filters E and E willbe allowed to rest empty and the valve S controlling the supply tofilter E through pipe T and channel D will be opened, so that thisfilter will be filled, valve M being at the same time shut down, filterE resting full until the buckets are again actuated, when it in turnwill be discharged, and so on.

The controlling-valve Z, with which the overflow-pipes from thedifferent filters all communicate, consists of a disk .2', having asingle aperture 2', and which by a toothed wheel j, mounted on the mainshaft I and gearing with a wheel is, mounted on the shaft 1 of disk .2,is on each movement of the shaft I caused to make one-fifth of arevolution and thereby bring its aperture opposite the opening of eachof the overflow-pipes in succession, and thus enable such liquid to passthrough one or other of the pipes 7t or 7Z7, according to which bucket Kor K is in the raised position. As before stated, the end of each of thepipes h and h is fitted with a flap-valve U, so that it is only thatwhich is opened in consequence of the bucket over which it is situatedbeing raised that the liquid can pass through, and consequently suchbucket will be filled and the alternating gear actuated in the mannerdescribed. The overflow from the spare filter E can be connected bymeans of a three-way cock or in any suitable manner with the overflowsfrom the five operative filters, so as to enable it to replace any oneof the same. The lever controlling the valves of the filter out of usemaybe supported so as not to be actuated by the cam on the main shaft,which is provided to operate same when required.

\Ve claim as our invention 1. The combination of a plurality ofreceptacles, and automatic means actuated by the overflow from saidreceptacles for controlling the supply and discharge thereof.

2. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, means for supplyingliquid to said receptacles successively, valves for the discharge ofsuch liquid, buckets adapted to operate said supply means-anddischarge-valves, and overflow pipes or passages through which liquidfrom said receptacles may pass and fill said buckets in turn.

3. The combination of three or more receptacles, supply and dischargemechanism for said receptacles, automatic means actuated by the overflowfrom said receptacles for controlling the supply and discharge thereof,and means for cutting out of or introducing into operation one of saidreceptacles without interfering with the operation of the apparatus.

at. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, a rock-shaft, a framemounted on said shaft, buckets supported on said frame on opposite sidesof said shaft, pipes for conveying the overflow from said receptacles tosaid buckets alternately, said overflow causing the buckets to rise andfall alternately for rocking the shaft in opposite directions, and meansconnected with said shaft for controlling the supply and discharge ofthe liquid to and from said receptacles.

5. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, overflow pipes orpassages leading therefrom, valves disposed in said pipes, andactuating-buckets adapted to open and close said valves successively.

(i. The combination of three or more receptacles, supply and dischargemechanism for said receptacles, means for controlling said supply anddischarge mechanism actuated by the overflow from said receptacles, andfourway cocks disposed in the overflow-passages from said receptacleswhereby one or more of said receptacles may be thrown out of operationat will.

7. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, overflow pipes orpassages leading therefrom, flap-valves disposed on said pipes, andactuating bucket mechanism adapted to open and close said valves.

8. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, overflow pipes orpassages leading therefrom, flap-valves disposed on said overflow-pipes,and provided with projections, and actuating means adapted to engagesaid projections and open said valves.

9. In an apparatus for automatically delivering liquid successively to aplurality of receptacles and discharging it therefrom, the combinationof a rock-shaft, a frame mounted thereon, buckets supported on saidframe on opposite sides of said shaft, into which the overflow from saidreceptacles is alternately delivered, thereby imparting movement to saidshaft, discharge means for said receptacles operated successively bysaid shaft, and a diverter disposed on said shaft and adapted to deliverliquid alternately to said receptacles.

10. The combination of two tanks or filters, at diverter for supplyingliquid to each of said filters in turn, discharge-valves for saidliquid, a pair of buckets operating said diverter and discharge-valves,and overflow pipes or passages by which liquid from said tanks orfilters when filled to the desired height may fill said buckets in turn.

11. The combination of two or more tanks or filters, valves fordelivering liquid to said filters successively, valves for dischargingit therefrom, a pair or pairs of buckets operating said valves, andoverflow pipes or passages by which liquid from said tanks or filterswhen filled to the desired height may fill said buckets in turn.

12. The combination of three or more tanks or.filters, some of whichonly are in use at one time, apparatus for alternately filling ahdemptying the tanks or filters in use, pipes or passages whereby the tankor tanks or filter or filters not in use may be filled and discharged bythe same setof apparatus, and means for closing said'pipes or passages.

13. The combination of three or more tanks or filters, apparatus forfilling and emptying said tanks or filters in succession, overflow pipesor passages for conveying liquid for working said apparatus, and valvesor cocks by which one or more of said tanks or filters may be cut out ofor thrown in without interfering with the operation of the tanks orfilters remaining in use.

14. The combination with a moving bucket, of a counterweight to holdsuch bucketin a desired position, said counterweight consisting of asecond chamber having an opening whereby water may pass into it from theac tuating-bucket when the latter falls, and a second opening wherebysaid second chamber may be emptied when the bucket rises.

15. The combinationof overfiow-pipesfrom several chambers or receptacleswith a disk valve and flap-valves, in such a manner as to direct thedischarge of the overflow from any one of a number of receptacles orchambers into the actuating-bucket which should next receive it.

10. In combination with three or more tanks or filters of which someonly are in use at one time, pipes or passages whereby the tanks orfilters in use may be filled or discharged, valves for closing saidpipes or passages, apair of buckets for opening and closing said valves,the motion of said buckets being communicated to said valves throughgearing and a shaft or shafts, pipes or passages for conveying theoverflow from said tanks or filters into said buckets, and valves fordirecting said overflow into the bucket which should receive it, andmeans for disconnecting the valves belonging to any tank or filter so asto throw said tank or filter out of use.

17. The combination ofa plurality of filters, wells for collecting thefiltrate from said filters, pipes connecting said filters with saidcollecting-Wells, discharge-valves disposed in said collectingwells,saidwells being provided with overflow-pipes, and means operated by theoverflow from said wells for opening and closing said discharge-valves.

18. Thecombinationofapluralityoffilters, means for supplying liquid tosaid filters successively, wells for collecting the filtrate from saidfilters, pipes connecting said filters with said collecting-wells,saidwells being provided with discharge-valves disposed in the bottomthereof, and with overflow-pipes near the top thereof, and meansoperated by the overflow from said wells for actuating thefilter-supplying means and the discharge-valves of the collecting-wells.

19. The combination ofa plurality of filters, means for supplying liquidto said filters successively, wells for collecting the filtrate fromsaid filters, pipes connecting said filters with saidcollecting-wells,said wells being provided with discharge-valvesdisposed in the bottom thereof, and with overflow-pipes near the topthereof,and distributing-pipes connected with the discharge-valves ofsaid collecting-wells, means operated by the overflow from said wellsfor actuating the filter-supply means and the discharge-valves of thecollectingwells.

20. The combination of a plurality of filters, collecting-wellsconnected therewith, a shaft extending over said filters and wells, adiverter disposed on said shaft over said filters and adapted to directthe flow of liquid to said filters alternately, and buckets disposed onopposite sides of said shaft for actuating the diverter.

21. The combination of a plurality of filters, wells connected therewithfor collecting the filtrate therefrom, said wells being provided withdischarge-valves, a shaft extending over said filters and wells,mechanism connecting said discharge-valves with said shaft, a diverterdisposed over said filters on said shaft and adapted to direct the fiowof liquid to said filters alternately, and buckets sus pended on saidshaft for actuating the diverter and the discharge-valves of thecollecting-wells.

22. The combination ofaplurality of filters, wells connected therewithfor collecting the filtrate therefrom, said wells being provided withdischarge-valves, a shaft extending over said filters and wells,mechanism connecting said discharge-valves with said shaft, a diverterdisposed over said filters on said shaft, and adapted to direct the fiowof liquid to said filters alternately, and buckets suspended on saidshaft for actuating the diverter and the discharge-valves of thecollecting-wells, said collecting-wells being provided with overflowpipes or passages through which liquid from said wells when filled tothe desired height may pass and fill said buckets in turn causing themto rise andfall alternately.

23. The combination of a plurality of filters, wells connected therewithfor collecting the filtrate therefrom, said wells being provided withdischarge-valves, a shaft extending over said filters and wells,mechanism connecting said discharge-valves with said shaft, a diverterdisposed over said filters on said shaft, and adapted to direct the flowof liquid to said filters alternately, buckets suspended on said shaftfor actuating the diverter and the discharge-valves of thecollecting-wells, said collecting-wells being provided with overflowpipes or passages through which liquid from said wells when filled tothe desired height may pass and fill said buckets in turn causing themto rise and fall alternately, said overflow-pipes crossing each otherand discharging into the buckets disposed diagonally opposite to thewell from which said pipes lead, thereby causing the shaft to turntogether with the mechanism disposed there- I vided withdischarge-valves and overflowpipes, a shaft extending over said filtersand wells, a diverter disposed on said shaft over said filters, a frameattached to said shaft,and l bcrs in communication, the primar 1 chamberbuckets supported at opposite sides thereof l being adapted to receive aquantity of liquid and adapted to be operated by the overflow l bucketto descend, and the secondary chamfrom said wells.

7 The combination of a plurality of filters, collecting-wells connectedtherewith and provided with discharge-valves and overflowpipes, a shaftextending over said filters and wells, a diverter disposed on said shaftover said filters, a frame attached to said shaft and buckets disposedat opposite ends thereof and adapted to be operated by the overflow fromsaid wells, a double end lever also mounted von said shaft, and meansfor connecting the ends of said lever to the discharge-valves of thecollecting-wells.

26. The combination'of a plurality of filters, collecting-wellsconnected therewith and provided with dischargevalves and overflowpipes,a shaft extending over said filters and wells, at diverter disposed 011said shaft over said filters, a frame attached to said shaft, bucketsdisposed at opposite ends thereof and adapted to be operated by theoverflow from said wells, and a counterweight for each bucket adapted tooverbalance the weight of the apparatus and hold it out of centralposition during the filling of the other bucket.

27. The combination of a plurality of receptacles, supply and dischargemechanism for said receptacles, a pair of buckets adapted to controlsaid supply and discharge mechanism, said buckets being adapted to riseand fall alternately, and means for holding one of said buckets inlowered position until it is again actuated.

' 28. A pair of buckets actuated by the over flow froma plurality ofreceptacles and adapted to control the supply and discharge therefrom,each ,bucket comprising two chambers adapted to be filled alternately,one of said filled chambers serving as a counterweight for holding thebucket in lowered position.

29. The combination of a tilting frame, and two buckets rigidlysupported thereby, each bucket having primary and secondarychamsufficient to tilt the frame and cause the her being adapted toreceive liquid from the primary chamber on descent of the bucket forholding it in lowered position.

30. A bucket having a partition forming two chambers one above theother, the upper chamber being'adapted to hold liquid when the bucket isin horizontal position, and the lower chamber being adapted to receiveliq uid from the upper chamber when the bucket is in inclined positionand discharge it when the bucket is in horizontal position.

31. A counterbalancing bucket having a diagonal partition forming twochambers disposed one above the other and in communication near the topof the bucket, the upper chamber having an inlet at the top of thebucket and the lower chamber having an outlet at the bottom of thebucket.

The combination of three or more filters, each having'a supply-valve anda dischargevalve connected to a single lever, and means for moving saidlevers in succession thereby closing one valve and opening another.

33. The combination of three or more filters, each having a supply and adischarge valve connected to a single lever, and cams for communicatingmotion to said levers in succession.

34. The combination ofthree ormore filters, each having a supply-valveand a dischargevalve connected to a single lever, and a moving mechanismthe motion of which is com-- in unicated to each of said levers during acertain part of said motion, said lever remaining at rest during theremaining part of said motion.

DONALD CAMERON. FRED. J. OOMMIN,

Witnesses: I

ALBERT ZELLEY, ALEX. G. MATTHEws.

